Wellington, FL (January 25, 2012) – Fleet Halaaniz, a purebred Arabian who proved to be a dressage star during his lifetime as well as a wonderful ambassador for the Arabian breed, passed away recently at the age of 27. Owned by Lisa Hyslop of Oak Hammock Farms, in Loxahatchee, Florida, Fleet was a special horse that will be missed by his many fans.
“My parents bought Fleet when he was four years old and after I graduated from college he became ‘my’ horse,” Hyslop said. “Fleet excelled in the dressage ring and as a rider I accomplished the required scores for my USDF Bronze and Silver Medals on him. Although Fleet won many championships in his lifetime, his greatest achievement was probably being an ambassador for the Arabian breed. He also introduced many riders to the more difficult movements in dressage as a lesson horse at my farm.”
Fleet, who was an Ibn Mirzaz son out of a mare named Fleeta Twin Aana and bred by Fleetwind Arabians, was the AHA (formerly IAHA) Regional Champion or Reserve Champion Training in Prix St. Georges. He also won the National Champion Fourth Level/Prix St. Georges/Sport Horse Show Hack. “He won his last National Championship in 2003 when he was 19 years old. We buried him with those winning roses,” Hyslop said.
Hyslop said she has many years’ worth of amazing memories about her special horse. “Fleet provided me with my first national wins and gave me recognition. I owe him a tremendous amount for elevating my riding and my career to new heights. I can’t think of one person who met Fleet who wasn’t instantly smitten with him,” she said.
Hyslop said one particularly fond memory revolves around a Regional Finals competition in which Fleet started acting like he was sick. “We had a party for Fleet and had to call the vet because he was acting like he was going to colic. The vet wrote, ‘Too much cake and champagne’ on his diagnosis sheet. Fleet was the perpetual party animal!” Hyslop said.
Hyslop said that Fleet is buried at Oak Hammock, a farm he helped form. “Though he will be missed by many, he has moved on to greener pastures. Please know what a wonderful life this dear horse lived and that he went surrounded by those who loved him most,” Hyslop said.
For more information contact
Johnny Robb – JRPR, Inc.
561-753-4608
jrpr@mac.com